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Zach Johnson and William McGirt share John Deere lead after Day 2

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Zach Johnson and William McGirt share John Deere lead after second day

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Zach Johnson had two late bogeys Friday, but still ended the second round tied for the lead with William McGirt. They're a stroke ahead of Steven Bowditch, Johnson Wagner and Brian Harman.

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golf, pga tour, john deere classic, zach johnson, william mcgirt

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Zach Johnson carded a 67 Friday to go with his opening 63, and is tied for the top spot at the John Deere Classic heading into the weekend.

Tim Cronin

Associated Press

SILVIS, Ill. – Zach Johnson and William McGirt were at 12-under-par 130 and tied for the lead at the halfway point of the John Deere Classic.

They were a stroke ahead of Steven Bowditch, Johnson Wagner and Brian Harman.

Three-time Deere winner Steve Stricker shot a 65 Friday for a 133 total to vault into contention at the par-71 TPC Deere Run, and was tied for sixth with Rory Sabbatini, Ryan Moore and Todd Hamilton.

Johnson, the Deere winner in 2012, shot a 4-under 67 in the afternoon despite two bogeys in his last four holes. That dropped him into a tie with McGirt.

McGirt, 35, is looking for his first PGA Tour victory.

He added a 66 to his opening 64, but like Johnson, he finished with a bogey. McGirt's best finish this year is a tie for sixth in the Northern Trust Open at Riviera. Since then, he's had one top 10 and has missed the cut in seven of 14 tournaments.

McGirt is winless on the PGA Tour in 111 starts, most of them in the last four years. His best finishes are a pair of ties for second in the Canadian Open, in 2012 and 2013.

Asked how he'd gotten to 12 under and the lead on Friday, he said, "I couldn't tell you what happened."

Hamilton, who grew up in the area, used a 69 to get to 133, while Moore shot 67 and Sabbatini shot 70.

Jerry Kelly and Charles Howell III were among those at 8 under. Howell, who shot 68, aced the uphill 132-yard third hole.

Defending champion Jordan Spieth was five strokes back of the leaders through 36 holes thanks to a 64 for 7-under 135. He was five back after two rounds last year.

Johnson's victory in 2012 isn't the only good finish at the Deere for the native of nearby Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He lost in a playoff last year, tied for second in 2009, and tied for third in 2011. He also sits on the tournament's board of directors.

There's a comfort level for Johnson that didn't exist previously, when he missed the cut three times in seven years and didn't finish better than 20th.

SILVIS, Ill. – Zach Johnson and William McGirt were at 12-under-par 130 and tied for the lead at the halfway point of the John Deere Classic.

They were a stroke ahead of Steven Bowditch, Johnson Wagner and Brian Harman.

Three-time Deere winner Steve Stricker shot a 65 Friday for a 133 total to vault into contention at the par-71 TPC Deere Run, and was tied for sixth with Rory Sabbatini, Ryan Moore and Todd Hamilton.

Johnson, the Deere winner in 2012, shot a 4-under 67 in the afternoon despite two bogeys in his last four holes. That dropped him into a tie with McGirt.

McGirt, 35, is looking for his first PGA Tour victory.

He added a 66 to his opening 64, but like Johnson, he finished with a bogey. McGirt's best finish this year is a tie for sixth in the Northern Trust Open at Riviera. Since then, he's had one top 10 and has missed the cut in seven of 14 tournaments.

McGirt is winless on the PGA Tour in 111 starts, most of them in the last four years. His best finishes are a pair of ties for second in the Canadian Open, in 2012 and 2013.

Asked how he'd gotten to 12 under and the lead on Friday, he said, "I couldn't tell you what happened."

Hamilton, who grew up in the area, used a 69 to get to 133, while Moore shot 67 and Sabbatini shot 70.

Jerry Kelly and Charles Howell III were among those at 8 under. Howell, who shot 68, aced the uphill 132-yard third hole.

Defending champion Jordan Spieth was five strokes back of the leaders through 36 holes thanks to a 64 for 7-under 135. He was five back after two rounds last year.

Johnson's victory in 2012 isn't the only good finish at the Deere for the native of nearby Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He lost in a playoff last year, tied for second in 2009, and tied for third in 2011. He also sits on the tournament's board of directors.

There's a comfort level for Johnson that didn't exist previously, when he missed the cut three times in seven years and didn't finish better than 20th.